Second fixed line concession auction comes to an end

Oman’s Telecoms Regulatory Authority (TRA) has named the PCCW-Awaser Oman Consortium as the leading bidder for a Class One licence to establish fixed line public telecom services in the Sultanate. A statement issued by the TRA yesterday said the consortium scored the highest marks in the technical and commercial evaluation, as well as putting in the best financial bid. The regulator will now forward its recommendation to the Minister of Transport and Communications, dependent on PCCW-Awaser Oman honouring its obligations in line with the conditions of tender. It has 15 working days to do so. PCCW-Awaser Oman is a joint venture between Hong Kong-based multi-service operator PCCW, and a local partner. Qatar Telecom’s (Qtel) local wireless subsidiary Nawras has also bid for the fixed line licence, which covers the provision of local and international wireline services, radio frequencies for broadband, submarine communication cables, and transmission stations.